Despite the council’s confirmation that the closure followed a food hygiene inspection - when contacted by the ECHO, CAU claimed it was because of a broken extractor fan and said the restaurant would reopen on Friday.

But when council inspectors revisited the premises today, they were not happy for it to re-open and CAU will now remain closed until at least Monday.

Icicles in Sefton Park

The Strand 'is about to reopen'

It looks like today’s drama at The Strand in Bootle is drawing to a close.

15:32

Merseyrail latest

What with strikes and ‘adverse weather conditions’, it’s not much fun being a Merseyrail passenger at the moment.

15:07

Fire at The Strand shopping centre

Here’s the latest from Mersey Fire & Rescue Service about today’s evacuation of The Strand. Follow live updates from the scene here.

14:54KEY EVENT

Teenager found GUILTY of bludgeoning OAP to death with hammer

Breaking news from Liverpool Crown Court: A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of 71-year-old Richard Percival at his home in Newton-le-Willows. Updates here.

Richard Percival as a younger man

14:18KEY EVENT

Smithdown Road will be down to ONE LANE on Sunday

Essential work to repair a gas main under Smithdown Road gets under way on Sunday.

Gas network Cadent has detected gas escaping from a low pressure main which sits directly under the carriageway.

They say while the escape is under control, with the gas being vented into the atmosphere and constantly monitored, the repair is needed before this gets any worse and to ensure continued gas supply to homes and businesses.

The work area is close to the junction of Greenbank Road.

Four-lane Smithdown Road will be reduced to one lane near this work area, with traffic lights controlling the flow of vehicles each way. There will be no turning from Smithdown Road on to Greenbank Road. Traffic exiting Greenbank Road will only be able to turn left onto Smithdown Road.

A spokesman for Cadent said: “Our first priority is to locate exactly where the gas is escaping from. We’ll then know the full extent of what’s needed to complete the repair. We’ll work as quickly as we can, working into the night Sunday, but expect the work to continue into at least Monday.”

13:58

Childwall Valley Road congestion

Bootle Strand fire

Bootle Strand fire latest: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said there would be more than two appliances called to the scene if it was “a major fire” but its location means they have to drill to access it.

Travel latest

Bootle Strand incident

Firefighters now appear to be drilling into the ground at the scene. Follow updates from the scene here.

13:18

Your rights if your flight or train has been cancelled because of the snow

Flight or train cancelled by the current bad weather? Your rights explained here.

Snow is cleared at Leeds Bradford Airport in Yorkshire, as storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, looks poised to meet the Beast from the East's chilly Russia air, causing further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures. (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

13:00

Incident at The Strand

Here’s what Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service are saying about the call-out they attended at The Strand.

12:39

The Strand - fire call-out

The shopping centre has been evacuated.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed they have been called to the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. Two fire appliances have been sent.

Bootle Strand Shopping Centre (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

12:32

Fire service called to Strand Shopping Centre

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed they have been called to the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. Two fire appliances have been sent.

Bootle Strand Shopping Centre (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

12:23

Lush burglary - man charged

Been keeping an eye on the police’s Twitter feed and they say they have charged a man following a report of a burglary at Lush in Liverpool city centre.

A report was received at around 3.45am on March 1 that the door of the shop had been smashed and a number of items taken from inside the store on Whitechapel.

Officers attended and arrested a man near the scene.

Kevin Emmanuel Spaine, aged 38, of Brook Road has been charged with burglary and possession of heroin.

He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on April 10.

12:00

M62 disruption

Not great on the M62.

11:49

Merseyrail strike tomorrow

A reduced service will be in operation on Merseyrail on Saturday because of strike action by the RMT union in a dispute over guards on trains.

11:29

Jury sent out in trial of teenager who bludgeoned OAP to death with hammer